F C G
The king has been a prisoner,
Am G F
And a prisoner long in Spain,
C Am Em
And Willie of the Winsbury
F C F
Has lain long with his daughter at home.
F C G
"What ails you, what ails you, my daughter Janet,
Am G F
That you look so pale and wan?
C Am Em
Oh, have you had any sore sickness
F C F
Or yet been sleeping with a man?"
F C G
"No, I have not had any sore sickness,
Am G F
Nor yet been sleeping with a man.
C Am Em
But it is for you, my father dear,
F C F
For biding so long in Spain."
F C G
"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown,
Am G F
And stand naked upon the stone,
C Am Em
That I may know you by your shape,
F C F
If you be a maiden or none."
F C G
And she's cast off her berry-brown gown
Am G F
And stood naked upon the stone
C Am Em
Her apron was low and her haunches were round,
F C F
Her skin was pale and wan.
F C G
"Oh, was it with a lord or a duke or a knight,
Am G F
Or a man of birth and fame,
C Am Em
Or was it with one of my serving men
F C F
Who's lately come out of Spain?"
F C G
"No, it wasn't with a lord or a duke or a knight,
Am G F
Nor a man of birth and fame,
C Am Em
But it was with Willie of Winsbury,
F C F
I could bide no longer alone."
F C G
Now the king has called on his merry men all,
Am G F
By thirty and by three,
C Am Em
Says, "Fetch me this Willie of Winsbury,
F C F
For hanged he shall be."
[- Instrumental verse -]
F C G
But when he came the king before,
Am G F
He was clad all in the red silk.
C Am Em
His hair was like the golden strands,
F C F
His skin was as white as the milk.
F C G
And "It is no wonder," said the king,
Am G F
"That my daughter's love you did win.
C Am Em
For if I were a woman, as I am a man,
F C F
My bedfellow you would have been."
F C G
"Oh will you marry my daughter Janet,
Am G F
By the truth of your right hand?
C Am Em
Oh, will you marry my daughter Janet?
F C F
I'll make you the lord of my land."
F C G
"Oh yes, I will marry your daughter Janet.
Am G F
By the truth of my right hand.
C Am Em
Why yes, I will marry your daughter Janet,
F C F
But I'll not be the lord of your land."
F C G
And he's mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Am G F
And himself on a dapple grey.
C Am Em
He has made her the lady of as much land
F C F
As she shall ride on a warm summer's day.
